Anyone Here Taking Paxil???

  • Hello,

    I'm popping in from the SUGAR BUSTER board to inquire if anyone who takes PAXIL has a problem with steady weight gain?
    I started PAXIL (and I love it) last October and my quality of life
    dramatically improved, but I noticed a steady weight gain (15lbs
    to April). I saw my Dr and she changed me to CELEXA which gave me VIVID dreams...then on to EFFEXOR because there is no side effect of weight gain, but it's just not PAXIL...I'm changing back to PAXIL, and just wondered if anyone knew a little trick that I'm not aware of to ward off the weight gain this time around?

    Thanks in advance

    BOB
  • DEAR BOB-
    PLEASE CHECK OUT 'WEIGHT LOSS AND DEPRESSION' ON THE CHAT BOARD. MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH TAKING ANTID'S AND WEIGHT GAIN. THERE ARE OTHER SIDE EFFECTS TO MANY OF THE MED'S ALSO.
    BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!
  • I've taken Paxil and noticed the weight gain. All I can recommend is a constant awareness of the amount of calories consumed and more activity.

    I am now on the new antidepressant Lexapro. It seems okay so far and it is supposed to be weight neutral. In other words, not as many gain on it.

    I have to admit that I am not always conscious of how much I am eating. When I kept a journal of calories and exercise I did much better and lost 60 pounds, too.

    Good luck to you and glad Paxil is helping you. That's great.
  • i too am on Paxil and have been for almost 5 years and am having trouble losing weight...i am going to ww and can't seem to lose anymore than the 17lbs i have lost i also take actos, and other diabetes meds and insulin plus i have colitis, and high blood pressure and take a heart med too i really think all these meds tend to hinder us from losing weight
  • Hi, I take paxil, and when I was first given the prescription I was asked if I had any history of anorexia because they wouldn't give it to me if I had, I guess in some people it causes weight gain but in others it causes loss of appetite, and weight loss. I don't know what to tell you, except to just be extra careful about what you eat when you start back on the Paxil. Good luck.
  • Hi Bob.... I took Paxil over 3 years ago for Fibromyalgia. While it decreased pain a lot, it made me gain 30 pounds.
    I hit the candy dish every day starting at 1pm and would then eat carbs right up til the time I went to bed.
    I then went to a Paxil message board and heard so many say the same thing. We all became addicted to carbs. Some insisted that they hadn't changed their eating at all and had gained weight.
    I can't say that.
    I ate like a pig.
    I went thru terrible withdrawal to get off. Have never found an equal substiture for Paxil for pain. 5-HTP helped a bit. I still have 15 pounds of that Paxil weight too.